Greece after the Peloponnesian War
Greece after the Peloponnesian War:
• Nature and impact of the Spartan hegemony; role and significance of Lysander, Agesilaus
- Sparta won the Peloponnesian War. The war had ruined many states economically and spiritually. A true leader was needed. Thucydides believed Sparta would unite Greece and lead through goodwill. However, during the war Sparta had medised and sold the Ionian states to the Persians. Sparta could hardly claim to be the ‘liberator of the Greeks’.
- Sparta had however earned the gratitude of many Greek states by overthrowing their Athenian rulers. States like Delos had literally been liberated by Sparta. She had great militaristic reputation, her hoplites never beaten in regular battle in 200 years. She was now a land and naval power, and was very politically stable internally.
- Sparta now had to either hand over the Ionians or go to war with Persia. She lacked resources to exercise a lasting hegemony. She had only 3000 hoplites. At this time, weakness in Sparta’s constitution emerged. Power lay with two kings, 5 ephors and 28 males, with which there was often friction. Intellectuals (eg. Isocrates) believed Sparta lacked modern vision to be true leaders. Society rested on agricultural economy and serf labour. They used different currency, yet the spoils of war were in gold and silver. This caused civil unrest. Always threat of helot uprising.
- In ruling Greece after the Peloponnesian war, Sparta sank to a combination of medism and imperialism, which was condemned by all. Under the influence of navarch Lysander, a system of military tyranny emerged. His power and influence was great after success in war. He had a statue of him erected, was given position of navarch a second time (against Spartan law) and had huge influence. Buckler concludes that Sparta found it easier to defeat the enemy than win peace.
- Each ex-Delian League city was given an oligarchic govt of 10 pro-Spartan natives chosen by Lysander. A Spartan harmost and
• Nature and impact of the Spartan hegemony; role and significance of Lysander, Agesilaus
- Sparta won the Peloponnesian War. The war had ruined many states economically and spiritually. A true leader was needed. Thucydides believed Sparta would unite Greece and lead through goodwill. However, during the war Sparta had medised and sold the Ionian states to the Persians. Sparta could hardly claim to be the ‘liberator of the Greeks’.
- Sparta had however earned the gratitude of many Greek states by overthrowing their Athenian rulers. States like Delos had literally been liberated by Sparta. She had great militaristic reputation, her hoplites never beaten in regular battle in 200 years. She was now a land and naval power, and was very politically stable internally.
- Sparta now had to either hand over the Ionians or go to war with Persia. She lacked resources to exercise a lasting hegemony. She had only 3000 hoplites. At this time, weakness in Sparta’s constitution emerged. Power lay with two kings, 5 ephors and 28 males, with which there was often friction. Intellectuals (eg. Isocrates) believed Sparta lacked modern vision to be true leaders. Society rested on agricultural economy and serf labour. They used different currency, yet the spoils of war were in gold and silver. This caused civil unrest. Always threat of helot uprising.
- In ruling Greece after the Peloponnesian war, Sparta sank to a combination of medism and imperialism, which was condemned by all. Under the influence of navarch Lysander, a system of military tyranny emerged. His power and influence was great after success in war. He had a statue of him erected, was given position of navarch a second time (against Spartan law) and had huge influence. Buckler concludes that Sparta found it easier to defeat the enemy than win peace.
- Each ex-Delian League city was given an oligarchic govt of 10 pro-Spartan natives chosen by Lysander. A Spartan harmost and